National Brief: Move questioned

NEW YORK -- The Episcopal Church appears ready to kill its plan to move denominational headquarters across town to the campus of General Theological Seminary.

A study committee informed the church's Executive Council it does not think it can reach an agreement acceptable to both sides, and recommended against further funding.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold told the Executive Council the expected profit from selling the church's office building has declined, and relocation would be "an enormous distraction" of money and staff resources from other tasks. The church currently owns an office building on Manhattan's Second Avenue.

The Very Rev. Robert Giannini, dean of the Indianapolis cathedral and chairman of the seminary board, expressed surprise, since Griswold and the Executive Council previously authorized a go-ahead.

The seminary said it was "understandably disappointed," but that the money spent on the project would help other redevelopment plans for the campus on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea.